Chapter Text
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˗ˏˋ tell me of eternity (just one more time) ˎˊ˗
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The first time you saw him, you felt something odd.
It’s not often that the Nurse Joys send you to Turffield, but they did today; and you spend it sitting idly by the Pokemart corner of the building. There were always Trainers passing through the doors, sometimes a Pokemon fainted or health in the yellow. You should be helping these people and learning how to heal their wounded Pokemon. But this Nurse Joy had decided that today will be the day you find out how the PokeCentre’s glorious healing machine actually works.
And that’s how your eyes wandered from the teacup in your hands to the boisterous boy that came through the doors. Something about him reminded you of a wildfire - probably his loud entrance. And the Charmander that waddled beside him, before being sucked into a regular Pokeball with a beam of blue light. You don’t see those little fire lizards often - only seen two before while in Ballonlea’s PokeCentre.
Your beloved Natu took up its perch on your shoulder, large eyes fixated on the boy, unwavering.
Tufts of plum hair peeked out of his hat, eager to see the world around them just like those wide amber eyes. You wondered if he was a Gym Challenger, or at least going to participate this year.
As the question started to bounce inside your head, Natu’s blank gaze bore into you. The bird-like Pokemon then blinked, before nodding - or something akin to nodding but without a neck - vigorously. You have to pat the bird down before it stopped, singular pink crest finally stilling.
You wouldn’t trust your Natu just yet though. It might have been the child of your parent’s Xatu, but its psychic powers were still weak - just like those small, baby bird wings. You gave the Pokemon another ruffle, it replying with a quiet chirp. Never were much of a talker were you, little one?
“Hey!” Oh dear Arceus! A loud voice nearly sent you flying, stilled your heart, near sent it spiralling down the road to cardiac arrest. You took in a few breaths, letting Natu also calm down, before eyeing the boy who had gotten a cheap scare out of you. Thankfully the teacup had already been set down, or you’d get quite the scolding from your mentor.
He seemed to flinch when you glowered at him, still a little on edge. The boy gave you a Wooloo-ish look, one starry eye closed as though feigning hurt.
“Sorry if I spooked you, I was just waiting for my Pokemon to be healed and...” The boy wandered off, voice quiet this time. “That Natu of yours looks ace! Where’d you get it from, mate?”
“From an egg.” You scratched at your cheek, racking your head for something useful to say, “So I wouldn’t know exactly where it’d be found… Maybe try the Wild Area?”
He sighed, taking off his cap to ruffle the violet mess of hair beneath; “Ah, shame. Well, no worries; I’m sure I’ll find one eventually.”
“Name’s Leon by the way! May I ask for yours?”
Your name rolled out of your tongue, and he hummed with his eyes closed. Was he committing it to memory?
“Do you work here or something?”
“You could say that.” You paused to watch Natu leaving its perch on your shoulder, hopping down to the ground and staring up at this Leon character.
“I’m apprenticing here for a while.”
“Oh, so you’re going to be a Nurse one day?” You nodded. That was the plan anyway.
“Cool! We’ll be meeting each other quite a bit then, especially when I win the Gym Challenge.” A grin grew on Leon’s features, and you didn’t know why but a smile started growing on yours too. That last part held an air of pride to them - pride, confidence, and a touch of something else. You could only pin it as hope and determination.
“You’re a Gym Challenger?”
“Uh-huh!” This boy was starting to grow on you, even though he had previously given you quite the heart attack. So Natu was right; “And I’ll be more than that by the end of this year! I’ll be Champion!”
“Then I guess I’ll be rooting for you!”
What? The words fell from your lips without your thinking, and something inside you just wishes to scurry back into the darkness because who says that to someone they’ve just met? Arceus, you felt like such a child, like you suddenly went down seven years and became three again. Once the realization truly sunk in, you’re absolutely mortified; but at least Leon doesn’t laugh at you.
In fact, his grin only doubled, a light blush dusting his tan skin and his hands coming together to clap, elated. He hit his wrist on the table while doing so. The small clinking sound of your teacup against wood harmonized with one beat of his clapping.
There was surely something about this boy - his enthusiasm or something else - because you wouldn’t do that to just about any Trainer that walked through these PokeCentre doors. Something about this Leon was special. Why else did you have this feeling in your chest? Why else did the space suddenly get odd - or at least, that’s what it felt like - when he entered?
You’re gaze drifted to your Natu, who, since being let down to the floor, had been staring at Leon with great interest. There’s a twinkle in the little green bird’s eyes that you’ve only seen a couple times before - and not even on a Natu, but its evolution. Leon’s eyes eventually drift downward to meet his little Pokemon admirer.
“Hey, little guy.” The boy raised a hand to wave at the bird, “I’ve heard you guys can tell someone’s future.”
Whether or not it’s true for Natu - or specifically, your green-pea bird - is beyond you, but the case is true for it’s evolved form. You’ve seen wandering magicians and fortune tellers with the odd totem-like bird, stationed in constellation-print tents around Galar. They’ve got the crystal balls and tarot cards and everything - but with an actual future-seeing bird in their arsenal?
Well, all they’ve got to do is decipher their Pokemon, and Bob’s your uncle, you’ve got a pretty good fortune telling business.
“Is that why you wanted one of your own? To ask it if you’re going to be Champion?”
“It’s worth a shot though, isn't it?"
You bent and scooped up your Pokemon in your arms, holding it to your chest. "What if it tells you something you don't want to know?"
Your new fast-friend visibly deflated, playing with the rim of his hat now; when he doesn't answer for a long time you realize he doesn't know what to tell you.
Before any of you could say anything else, his name echoed throughout the Pokemon Centre. It took you both to realise that Nurse Joy was done healing his Pokemon, calling for him to collect his rejuvenated little team of three.
And so he did, rushing over with a smile that erased any sign of insecurity in that past chatter with you. You're almost relieved to see him like that, as if it's natural for him to be happy. You and Natu both watched him tuck each Pokeball on their rightful spaces on his belt, except one.
Charmander leapt out of that one in a burst of blue light and joy, a tiny battle cry ripping through its throat. The boy let out a laugh as the fiery lizard clung to his leg, patting it on the head.
"Hey, thanks for the little talk." Leon turned to you, smile still on his face, showing off the little dimple on his cheek. Then it faltered, just the tiniest bit, and his voice is small, uncertain:
"Will you still cheer for me?"
In no time at all, your Natu let out a chirp. Not the small, hushed ones, but almost a squawk.
"Yeah." You took in a breath. "Yeah, I'll cheer for you."
"Thank you, really."
And with a determined nod of his head, you watched Leon rush out of the Pokemon Centre, waddling Charmander in tow. A wildfire in his entrance and a wildfire in his exit - maybe that's just how he is.